Mare Power
MARE POWER
The horses that professional athletes
ride today are not the same caliber
horses their grandparents rode. As
the competition level and prize money
increased, so did the value of our four
legged athletes. For decades people
have been perfecting the bloodlines of
today's modern horses to specifically
produce the characteristics it takes
to win. Many breeders have it down
to a science. As fertility technology
improves, so does the ability to try
and create the perfect horse.
In the past, the focus when breeding
was mostly on the stallions' genetics,
bloodlines, and performance records.
However, with the help of science, there
has been a big change in beliefs about
where the importance actually lies.
In recent years, more emphasis is being
placed on the maternal bloodlines and
performance records. The introduction
of embryo transfers in the horse industry
has made this easier to do. As embryo
transfers become readily available,
people are able to get more foals each
year out of proven mares, which makes
the breeding industry much more
competitive.
I talked to some leaders in the horse
industry
who
have
established
successful breeding programs for their
specific needs. These include a top
futurity trainer whose breeding program
revolves mostly around a mare who
seems to always produce winners, as
well as a family that has been in the
breeding industry for decades.
RYANN PEDONE
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I begin with Ryann Pedone, a futurity
trainer who was raised on a dairy
in Florida. Her Dad instilled in her a
huge work ethic and a love for animals
from the very beginning. She grew up
running barrels and competed at the
high school level. Then, she went on to
graduate with a degree in Finance from
University of South Florida. Shortly after,
she moved to Texas and was able to
surround herself with some of the very
best trainers and start her own very
successful career in the arena.
I asked Ryann a few questions about her
background, and to share some stories
of her great mare. Here is what she had
to say about being the proud owner of
one of the leading barrel horse mommas
in the country, Kiss Kiss This.
Ryann is now considered to be one of
the top futurity trainers. Along the way
she has ridden and trained many great
horses. It seems that some of her best
horses, thus far, are out of a mare she
ran when she was younger. Since being
retired, this mare has produced multiple
futurity champions for Ryann. Kiss Kiss
This has proved multiple times to be one
key to her huge success in the arena.
Cause for a Kiss was my first nice
futurity mare. I sold her as a 3 year old,
but was lucky enough to get her back
at the end of her 4 year old year. She
ran the 2nd fastest time of the futurity
at Oklahoma City, but due to my nerves
I choked in the finals. Then came Kiss
This Guy (Tyson), to whom I really have
to contribute my turnover. He is a half
brother to Cause for a Kiss, but he really
SUMMER 2015
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rodeofame.com
Ryann explains, "My Dad purchased Kiss
Kiss This from Kappie and Jody Nelson.
He finished training her and my stepmom, at the time, started running her. I
bred her to Cause Its Money, and that is
how I came to have Cause for a Kiss.
gave me the confidence I needed. I truly
didn't know Kiss Kiss This was special
until after Kiss This Guy started winning.
I believe great horses make trainers look
good. I owe so much to Tyson. I truly try
to find the best in all the colts I ride. Kiss
Me Bill Compton was a the next colt I
trained out of Kiss Kiss This that I found
great success on in 2013. I had a terrible
2014, but you can’t quit. It is life; you just
have to get gritty and keep going.